Voice notes

I just ignore them, if its important they will send a follow-up message.

I usually receive these on group chats and I ignore.

I’m usually in an environment where I cannot play out loud or have access to headphones. It’s easier for the sender, not easier for me!!! Most annoying when they’re waffly and don’t get to the point… very self indulgent!

I hate them! A friend started sending me them but when am I meant to listen to them? I rush between work and childcare - I can't listen at work, I don't want to put my earbuds in and listen when my child is there and I don't walk and listen because I don't think it's safe.

I'd also probably be interrupted if I did try to listen when my child is there plus I daren't play out loud because you have no idea what the msg is about and whether it's suitable for wherever you are at that moment.

So much easier to send a text message you can quickly skim in private.

I can see their use possibly if someone struggles with writing or texting, but otherwise no!

A dyslexic friend does this as it's easier than typing. I can just about forgive him doing it.
But I never ever listen to them.

I use them with my brother as he has many learning difficulties and cannot read or write. It’s very handy for us to communicate but would annoy me with anyone who could just text me

Unless I’m a) in private and b) in the mood, I text back saying I won’t be able to listen for a few hours so text me if it’s urgent.

Although when my late mum started to have trouble texting, she switched to voice notes and I treasure the ones I still have from her - it means I can still hear her voice. So there’s that.

Absolutely this. Weirdly voice note lovers seem to be vehemently against voice to text 😵‍💫 but the seemingly I’m the inverse of that so maybe there’s just 2 passionate camps.

I just refuse to listen to them . It’s incredibly rude !
The sender thinks I should waste two minutes of my time listening to them while they won’t take the thirty seconds to send a text !!!
If I get one I reply and say ‘ sorry , I don’t listen to voice messages , I don’t have the time . Text me if you want ‘ !
Then I delete !

Yeah. ‘It’s quicker’….. er, not for me it’s not, I have to wait until I can properly listen, stop my music/podcast, not be at work etc. then listen through your ramble before I can reply 😄

Because they don’t want an actual conversation and they’re too lazy to type!

Anything over a sentence long is sooo boring and time consuming having to listen to a one way conversation.

Personal preference. I like them. I will listen when I'm cleaning or driving, or relaxing. Just ignore her vn if it gets on your nerves and she will eventually stop.

Agree. Why don’t they use speech to text if it’s hard to type? I do that if I’m eg walking along and want to send a message. Easy for me, easy for the recipient.

One of our children does this, at huge volume with overdone intonation, you need to play it twice to understand properly 😬 we hate it YANBU

The youth are big on this. A young friend started with voice notes and has moved on to videos which is so demanding of my time and attention. I don’t need to see them lying in bed or on the loo talking at me when they could just as easy type it out and I can remain oblivious as to where they were at the time

If you're not bothered about privacy, you can forward them to this number and get a transcription and a brief summary back. It works pretty well!

+16464965161

One of my friends does this too, fine if I’m home and in a position to listen, but otherwise it’s a pain. And if it’s a really long message I forget all the points she’s mentioned that I need to respond to!

I hate them too. Just tell her you prefer phone calls or messages. Nothing wrong with that.

I just ignore them. I started doing that when they first started appearing in WhatsApps because at the time I didn’t know they were a thing and thought they were accidental!

The world didn’t end, so I carried on ignoring them.

YANBU I can’t stand them. If you want to speak call me, if not type a message.

I mean she's just wasted so much time hasn't she ? Just send the message.

My sister does this. She says it's quicker. Quicker for her, it's not for me! I'll often reply and say I can't listen to that right now, I'll have to get back to you later. Then she'll often sum up what she's said in a normal message.

Why don't people just phone? I might be old but I don't understand the concept of .them.

I hate them so much, I just find them so much more demanding than messages. Like if you’re with other friends or family you can just read a message and reply without it annoying everyone else. Instead of everyone having to wait whilst you listen. I do only have one friend who sends them and some of her voice notes ramble on for minutes and it’s nothing she couldn’t sum up in a text. I just think if we’re gonna send voice notes to each other then we might as well call?